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Washington Democrats try to bail out Chris Dodd

President Obama and other national Democrats are sparing no effort to help Sen. Chris Dodd. | AP Photo

There's a certain irony in Dodd's decision to leverage his D.C. heft in order to win back a deeply skeptical Connecticut electorate. Indeed, Dodd starts his reelection campaign as something of an underdog due to several controversies that have led voters to wonder whether the senator is really a fighter for his state, or just an out-of-touch pol who has spent too much time playing the Washington influence game.

During the summer of 2008, Dodd was among the legislators tied to former Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo's sweetheart mortgage program for politicians. When the financial crisis struck, Dodd was involved in crafting an unpopular measure that allowed insurance giant AIG to pay out executive bonuses while receiving huge amounts of taxpayer support through the Troubled Assets Relief Program. Later, questions arose about the reported value of a cottage Dodd purchased in Ireland.

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Not helping matters are memories of Dodd's futile campaign last year for his party's presidential nomination, as the senator relocated his family to Iowa for months before dropping out after a poor showing in the state's primary, the first of the Democratic contest.

By the beginning of March, a Quinnipiac poll showed the senator - who five years ago won reelection by a 24-points margin - losing a matchup with former Republican Congressman Rob Simmons by one percentage point. Just a few weeks later, the same survey placed Dodd 16 points back, winning only 34 percent of respondents.

Sensing opportunity, a growing field of Republicans has assembled to take on Dodd, including not only Simmons, but also state Sen. Sam Caligiuri and former Ambassador to Ireland Tom Foley. Libertarian-leaning investment banker Peter Schiff may join the race as well and Connecticut politicos say the field could grow even further.

And while the gap between Dodd and his best-known rival has closed - the latest Quinnipiac survey showed Simmons leading by five points - Republicans are skeptical that Beltway muscle can bring Dodd back into the lead.

"If this race is about change, and I think it's ultimately about change, bringing in establishment figures.is not going to sway votes," Caligiuri said. "People around Connecticut understand that Chris Dodd took our vote for granted a long time ago and stopped doing his job for us, and he's paying a price today."

Simmons campaign manager Jim Barnett agreed, arguing that the aid of the national party wouldn't help a candidate viewed as overly cozy with the D.C. set.

"People are already convinced that Chris Dodd is beyond knee-deep in inside-the-Beltway sludge," Barnett said. "Pulling out every Washington Democrat to reverse the case isn't going to solve the problem."

One Republican official put it most directly: "No one is surprised by the fact that they're trying to help him, but at the end of the day, this election will be a referendum on Chris Dodd."

Readers' Comments (1334)

Dodd will sink or swim on economic conditions in 2010 . if the economy is weak he will be one of the 1st dems getting the axe , if the economy has regained or is regaining its strength Dodd will get re-elected . Connecticut is a blue state so even with his baggage he can easily recover if the mood in the country is not sour .

That is not to say that I support his re-election . he deserves to have a rough go of it .

What do you base this opinion on . ?Any opinion should be given with supporting evidence . President Obama certainly hasn't sunk the careers of too many northeastern democrats .Also ,last i saw, Dodd won his last election bid . Sounds like your post is derived from bitter illusion .

The only intelligent comment I can make about Christopher Dodd is that he is the epitome of a slimy Washington pol.

When he gets that little mad smirk on his face, I would simply like to beat him into a wet spot on the floor. The typical elitist slimeball.

Chris, my boy, your corruption is too broad and deep. I only hope the good people of Connecticut have the sense to heave you under the bus, several times!

He would not have even gotten through the primaries in any non north eastern states . However ,he does have alot of clout with in the democratic party and in Connecticut. it will wind up carrying the day for him .

He's in the middle of Washington all right - taking all the benefits from low interest loans to lying about value of homes in Ireleand-and now we hear his wife is on all these boards favoring the healthcare industry. Why should Conneticut give him another term when he moved to Iowa to run for the presidency, why?

He's a loser.

He needs to go! He does NOT deserve the privilege of serving another term - he should go and needs to go - we need honest politicians not crap like him!

The President has no Constitutional authority to do most of the things they claim they can do. They can only ask the Congress to do what they want. The Congress could have stopped everything that's happening; the wars, the Wall Street takeover, the TRILLION DOLLAR defense budget they just passed. Our so-called representatives have sold us out so many times it makes my head spin and what do we all do? We not only let them keep their jobs, but you watch, they will most likely give themselves a raise, like they always do, for the fine job of screwing us they've done over the last two years. The way we hold our representatives accountable is to let them keep their $174,000 a year jobs so they can stick it to us for another two years! In case you're wondering, that's $14,500 a month, which includes another $4,700.00 raise they just gave themselves.

Republicans and Democrats take the exact same oath of office and very few of them take it seriously.

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

Dodd won big in his last election and will do the same this time. I realize all you right wing whiners have to do is blast Democrats because all your guys lost in the last election. The gop, Rush, Newt, Cheney, Fox (news?), Boner, McConnell, Sarah "Cut and Run" Palin, etc. are almost as important as a notary public. Please keep up the postings because it is really enjoyable to watch your enemies squirm.

Dodd won big in his last election and will do the same this time. I realize all you right wing whiners have to do is blast Democrats because all your guys lost in the last election. The gop, Rush, Newt, Cheney, Fox (news?), Boner, McConnell, Sarah "Cut and Run" Palin, etc. are almost as important as a notary public. Please keep up the postings because it is really enjoyable to watch your enemies squirm.

with the problems that Dodd had in the past , would you not rather have a democrat who is more reputable challenge and win the nomination ?I know that I would . it would be a boon and bring ethic accountability to the democratic party . it would be great to see us getting rid of our less desirables as the gop keeping theirs .

. Dodd should be voted out . I will probably be one of the few dems posting on this thread to say that . I hate corrupt politicians and would love to see him get booted . I am not saying that a republican should necessarily be the benefactor . I would love to see a challenge come from a moderate or blue-dog type democrat .

With Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) facing an uphill battle to win reelection next year after a series of Washington scandals battered his popularity back home, President Obama and other national Democrats are sparing no effort to help him.